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The manager of the Sonsini Animal Shelter is hoping a GoFundMe will give the no-kill shelter more time to find a solution to its financing and location problems.
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The cramped quarters inside the shelter.
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Limited outdoor access for the dogs.

Eleanor Sonsini Shelter Hoping to Buy Time with Community Support

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Time. That is what the manager of the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter is asking for.

On Friday, the shelter's board of directors announced on social media that the facility on Crane Avenue will be closing, citing financial constraints and insufficient space.

Soon after, shelter manager Noelle Howland created a GoFundMe page that has since garnered more than $25,000 of its $30,000 goal. Her goal is to buy time and move toward securing a better building.

"Either I buy us time or, hopefully, we will get a good chunk of change and we can stay open and eventually just get out of here," she said.

In 2018, the city pulled its contract to take stray animals to Sonsini and the nonprofit shelter was ordered to leave the municipal-owned building in Downing Industrial Business Park. This brought operations to a smaller location at 875 Crane Ave., which was intended to be temporary.

"People are aware of the conditions we're in," Howland said. "And I don't want to buy time to stay here for good because this is not conditions they should be in."


The shelter needs a generally larger space with more place for the dog kennels, a larger outdoor space for dog pens, a separate area for cats that is not combined with the office, and ideally a place for meet and greets.

The board estimated that $90,000 to $100,000 will be needed to stay open and fund six months of operation. It had originally eyed the end of August for a closing date but Howland was told that even a couple thousand dollars will delay the closing.

Due to the facility's high costs for heating, the board wants to be out of the facility for winter. This means finding homes for the dogs and cats while efforts to save the shelter are underway.

There are currently seven dogs and 12 cats at Eleanor Sonsini and eight cats in foster care.

Howland emphasized the importance of the public being aware of the shelter's needs. Monetary donations, supply donations, and of course adoptions are great ways to support the no-kill facility.

There are a good amount of applications for cats but the staff want to make sure that all of the lovable K9s find a great forever home.

More information on available animals can be found here.


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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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